Retina iPad mini unboxing and first hands on

It's late, really late over here in the UK, but that's not going to stop us cracking open the brand new iPad mini with Retina Display and taking a first look at it. It may be dark outside, but the iPad mini is certainly keeping our eyes open! This isn't a proper unboxing video – because I cheated and did it earlier – but it is a first look around the hardware and a quick side by side with its new big brother, the iPad Air.

It's an important comparison, and one we'll be making frequently throughout the coming days as we put the new iPad mini to the test. Because, for all intents and purposes, this is an iPad Air, just with a 7.9-inch display. And what a display. No video could ever do it justice, you need to see if for yourself. It's stunning.

We may well come back and shoot another – better lit – video as part of the full review, but it's too good not to show off. Did you manage to snag yourself a new Retina iPad mini amongst the launch day shenanigans? Let me know what your own first impressions are in the comments below!

^The speaker is louder in the air. The screen in my opinion (and the forums)is brighter and not as yellow. Typing may be easier depending on your hand size. My only negative would be that it is heavy with my griffin case.

I really hope that this version of the iPad mini does scuff and chip like the first one. Thankfully, I found a nice bumper type case to keep it in. Having said that, it's nice to see the mini with the retina display because that was the one thing the Nexus 7 had over it--and I stress ONE thing. Otherwise the mini cleaned it's clock with app selection and performance.

I will hopefully be picking up one of these bad boys tonight. Only thing I have to decide on is if I want the white or the black model. My iphone 5 is black. So maybe I will switch things up and go with a white one.

I tries one yesterday in the Apple store. Like the Air I was not blown away as I thought. Maybe it is my eyes but I didn't notice much in better screen quality. Speed was not much faster either. I had the original and retina side by side. At least that is what the guy in the store told me.

I have to start by saying I do not have the mini. I feel the air is the perfect size for reading notes, PDF journal articles, textbooks, word processing, creating content. I think I would have a hard time performing these daily work tasks with a smaller screen size, what have others found?

I can see a function in content consumption and using the zoom a lot (maybe I am getting older and need my eyes checked, hahaha). However, it feels too small for a lot if typing.

Good question I always thought 32gb was enough until I get home and load up all my iTunes and photos boom I'm out of space before I know it. Then good games and movie rentals are 1gb + a shot. All the apple apps are 500mb so if you want your media on your iPad like I do. Then go 64gb he'll I'd say even 128gb if you're wallet allows you.
Even though I stream a lot now I hate being stuck without data during travelling and it's nice to have your iTunes synced and saved to your iPad. Apple gives you 2 weeks to change your mind so keep that in mind. Start with 32gb and work your way up. 32gb should be standard these days.

In April I've bought iPad 4 ... I will wait maybe for the next iPad Mini(hope it will has TouchID, the best in this edition is that it has already Retina) but definetly all my future stuff will be MiniS. Planning to buy and the newest MacBook Pro next month so done with the classic iPad maybe for the next 3 or 4 years at least if they dont apply some huuuge change in it expect the size of the display. Here is the place to say - NO!! TO FUTURE iPhone with >5' display aka Galaxy Note style (puke)

Nice. Good video and good decision not to waste time on all that taking off of the plastic wrappers etc.

It's a shame there aren't any good pictures or videos of the silver/white ones yet though. So many guys go for the grey/black thinking they don't want to appear un-manly, but the silver/white combination is clearly both the more attractive and the more popular choice.

I have the iPad 3 and while I would like to have the Air, I think I would use the this new Mini more. It looks perfect. There may be a few of those under the Xmas tree this year. The whole family would love it.

I ordered a black 32 GB as soon as I saw they went on sale. Delivered next week. Then in the afternoon I noticed they were available for personal pickup at my local store. So I ordered another one and picked it up. I'll return the first one unopened when it gets here on Tuesday. I feel a little bad about that but I didn't know it would be available locally yesterday.

I was about 90% sure I was going to keep the Air until the news this morning. I thought I would have more time with the air to make a better decision. Instead I found myself taking time off work to drive to the apple store and returning my air and ordering the Mini. What can I say. When I can get a 32gb verizon LTE mini for the same price as a 16gb verizon LTE air then why not do it, right? I had the last mini and loved the size. Plus more pixel density packed display and more portable to boot.